Don’t you just love it when a design you are struggling with suddenly takes a turn and everything comes together in a way you never expected? That is exactly what happened with this fun easel card.

I did not start out to create an easel card. I was actually using a completely different Hero Arts club kit that had a coffee shop die – the same set I used for the tea cups and “but first coffee” sentiment in this design. I had stamped and fussy cut the tea cups on the retro style paper from Unity Stamp Co and was trying to work out how to incorporate everything. The stacked tea cups were supposed to follow the sketch but nothing was making sense, so I shoved it to the side and said good night to my craft studio.

I’m certain I am not the first crafter to have a revelation in the waking hours of the morning, but that’s what happened. As I was looking at the inspiration photo again, I noticed the easel sign and the light bulb went off.

I grabbed my bin of older Hero Arts kits and found the one with this cute easel die. The “Stay Humble, Work Hard, Be Kind” is a red rubber stamp that I acquired as an unpackaged gift from either Unity Stamp Co or Technique Junkies and it kept appearing on my desk saying “use me.” The swirls and stars is from a sentiment set from Technique Tuesday. I am pleasantly surprised at how all these elements worked so harmoniously together to create this inspirational cafe street sign. Even the anti static powder I used on the black cardstock worked in my favor to create chalk dust (I usually hate using anti static on black cardstock).

It’s not called “Inspired By” for nothing! What inspires you about the inspiration prompts this week. The colors? The cafe? The sketch? Or is there one element that reminds you of something in your stash? We can’t wait to find out. ~MarDi

Sometimes the Inspired By Challenge takes you on a journey! When I first saw the Cocoa Café, I thought for sure that I would be taking out images of mugs and mittens. Sifting through my patterned papers, I saw the aqua paper with the lemons and was inspired to make a lemonade cottage instead!

I used Papertrey Ink’s adorable “Home Is Where the Heart Is” die set and a sentiment from a vintage PinkFresh Studio set called “Fruitastic.”

The background is Spellbinders beautiful 3D embossing folder called “Lemon Fresco” over pink gingham paper .I even put some lemons on those whimsical trees with yellow Nuvo Drops!

Where will this week’s Inspiration photo lead you? We can’t wait to find out!

This week’s Inspired By Challenge instantly made me think of a cozy cafe charm, soft pastel colors and just the little details that make you smile. The Cocoa Cafe inspiration photo, with the pink storefront, mint accents and classic black and white touches, inspired this cheerful mug shaped card.

I love how the soft kraft base gives it the look of a warm cup of cocoa or coffee in the morning. A simple Hello sentiment felt perfect-just like meeting a friend for coffee and your favorite little cafe.

Please share with us what this fun sketch inspires with your creativity.

Cathy

Hey everyone, are you ready for the weekend? Who’s shopping?

This week’s inspiration is so fun. I thought of a little cafe in Europe when I saw it. I was inspired by the colors and the sketch and instead of a cafe I have a boutique. Reminds me of shopping on the Champs Élysées in Paris (I only window shopped as it was all too expensive for me LOL)

For this card I have used the new collection from Echo Park, called French Girl. The colors and images in this collection are so fun! Once again for the stickers, I have adhered them to scrap paper then mounted on foam squares for dimension.

Don’t forget to share your project in our Facebook group after you link up!

This week’s Inspired By Challenge is serving up cozy charm with a splash of bold, vintage style! This sweet cocoa café storefront is full of character, from the cheerful pink signage to the rich teal accents and classic black-and-white tiled floor. The inviting outdoor seating and warm café vibes make this scene feel both playful and welcoming.

Will you be inspired by the striking color combination, the retro storefront details, or the graphic patterns? Maybe it’s the mix of modern and vintage elements, the clean lines, or the cozy café atmosphere that sparks your creativity. However you interpret it, let this charming scene guide your design.

We can’t wait to see what you create!
Join us for #IB383 and don’t forget to tag your project with #inspiredbychallenge. After linking up, be sure to also share your creation in our Facebook group so everyone can see it and celebrate your inspiration! 

Kelly Schirmer

Laurel Seabrook

MarDi

Von Marie

Cathy Harper

Amy Tsuruta

Now it is your turn. We can’t wait to see how you are inspired

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Hello and Happy Friday Eve! My project was inspired by the newest Inspired by Challenge: Gum Boots

I was inspired by the theme and gingham. My card features the following products:

• Angie Blom Digital Designs – In Full Bloom Rainboots | digital
• Waffle Flower – A2 Lacy Layers | dies
• Lawn Fawn – Fruit Salad | 6×6

The image has been colored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and their blender pen.

I can’t wait to see how you’re inspired!

Thanks for stopping by!

Affiliate links at no extra cost to you:

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Hello everyone.  Von Marie here and I’m so happy to be on the blog today.  How about this weeks challenge so fun right?? Gum Boots, fun colors, and a great card sketch.

Here is how I was inspired? I want rain boots in every color shown so those boots, colors, and card sketch inspired me.

Let’s Get Started:

I grabbed some pattern papers from an older Doodlebug Design inc. Springtime 6×6 Paper pad. I then cut my 3 strips of pattern paper a little over 1 inch. Using my paper trimmer and glued them to a Navy blue textured cardstock panel 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.  

Next I stamped this cute duck in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock.  I love it from the Not 2 Shabby Shop called Rainy Day Cheer that was from a Subscription Box Of The Month or Jr Box Of The Month. I colored it in trying to match the inspiration photo using Copic Markers.  I paper pieced the umbrella from one of the same pattern papers and used a black marker to clean up my edges. I kept my duck light colored for a neutral look.  I fussy cut the duck and water droplets leaving a white border.  Isn’t this duck having so much fun? Makes me smile.  I stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set and cut it to fit. All was glued to a top folding A2 card base. I love this card and challenge.

You still have time to join us!

How to join this challenge? Create a card inspired by the photo or Card Sketch or both.  Link your card to the Inspired By..Blog. Every Thursday starts a New challenge so you have less than a week to link up your card.  Show us your card in our FB group.  We would love to see. 

Crafty Hugs 

Von Marie

When I saw the inspiration photo for this week’s challenge and read “Gum Boots,” I confess I was puzzled. I have heard of a gum shoe, but not gum boots.

According to Gemini, the term “gum boot” is most commonly used in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. I knew they were called wellies in the UK, and I know them as rain boots here in North America . So while it was really fun to design a card around the theme, it was also fun to learn something new.

Living in the California desert, we don’t typically need rain boots. At first I was concerned that I may not have anything in my stash to match the theme but when I went searching, I was delighted to find a number of items. I decided to go with the Spellbinders RAIN BOOT BOUQUET small die of the month from February 2024. I continued with mission to use my patterned paper stash, although the pattern is so subtle in the pale yellows and blues that it’s difficult to see it. Since I am constantly in need of birthday cards, I added a simple Happy Birthday sentiment to finish off my card.

I tried to come up with a way to incorporate the sketch in my design but wasn’t happy with anything I tried, so I gave myself permission to skip it. This is my first time using the Stitched Wacky Frame from Kat Scrappiness and I really like it, and aren’t these the prettiest colors?

When you see the Inspiration photo, what do you think of? The colors are so vibrant that I almost went full on rainbow. We hope you are inspired to join us this week. ~MarDi

Hi everyone , it’s Kelly! I hope that you woke up to an Easter Sunday full of hope, sunshine, and a little bit of chocolate, too. ❤️.

Even though our theme this week was all about spring’s rainy days, you can’t look at those rows of rainbow “Gum Boots” and not smile! I immediately thought of the sweet geese in The Greetery’s “Silly Goose” die collection and got to work making a sweet little scene…

I chose Simple Stories “Front Porch” papers because they had all of the colors in the inspiration photo. I still can’t get over the Easter bonnets included in the “Silly Goose” set!

Some Glossy Accents made our geese family’s boots shiny…and waterproof! 😂

Then this little gander! With his giant gingham egg and flowers for the lady geese? Be still my bird-loving heart! He’s just waiting for you to come join in the fun this week!

As always, thank you for stopping by. Wishing you all the happiest of Easter mornings!

Happy Easter, from Mexico!

So many adorable creations in the gallery last week. I lived all of the bunnies!

Inkblissbyjb

This is such a cute card! Love the background, those adorable bunnies and all of the details! Congratulations!

Don’t forget to play along this week